LAUREN J. A. BEAR was born in Boston and raised in Long Beach. After studying English at UCLA and Education at LMU, she taught middle-school Humanities for over a decade — and survived! She is a teaching fellow for the Holocaust Center for Humanity, and lives in Seattle with her husband and three young children.
She likes crossword puzzles and being on or near the water without getting wet. For more information --
or to subscribe to her newsletter, These Golden Lines -- head to www.laurenjabear.com.
The Wandering Queen (2026) Claire Heywood "The Wandering Queen brilliantly flips the traditional story arc; in this novel, the legend becomes a human. With exquisite, expert prose, Claire Heywood deconstructs the notoriety of Dido, revealing the complicated, vulnerable, and resilient woman at her core. This is what retellings are all about!"
The Happiness Collector (2025) Crystal King "The Happiness Collector brings mythology to the modern era in a fast-paced, delightful mystery. Full of pop culture references and art history allusions, King's novel is a celebration of humanity's creativity and resilience. Prepare to fall in love with Aida Reale, the next gen's Robert Langdon, as she takes on the gods themselves!"
The Changeling Queen (2025) Kimberly Bea "With language as lush as the woods of Faery, Kimberly Bea casts storytelling magic. An atmospheric, immersive tale of love and sacrifice."
A Beautiful and Terrible Murder (2025) (Irene Adler , book 1) Claire M Andrews "With its fast-paced plot to match its quick-thinking heroine, readers will be racing toward the last page, desperate to solve the mystery first. Claire M. Andrews has reimagined Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's world with a modern mix of romance, intrigue, and a dash of the diabolical. It's a story with more twists and turns than a Victorian London alley, and the most fun I've had reading in a long while!"
North Is the Night (2024) (Tuonela Duet, book 1) Emily Rath "Rath recreates a folkloric Finland rife with magic and mayhem, where witches, goddesses, and two irrepressible human girls clash in epic battles of wit and heart . . . Rath's world is one I did not want to leave. Prepare to be captivated!"
Daughters of Bronze (2024) A D Rhine "With a powerful poetic style, reminiscent of the past, and a modern perspective, Daughters of Bronze brings the women of war-torn Troy to vibrant, luminous life. Each page sings with the strength -- and sorrow -- of four voices, four stories, coming together in one shared chorus. Their song? Nothing is impossible when women find each other and fight back."
A Rose by Any Other Name (2024) Mary McMyne "In A Rose by Any Other Name, the Dark Lady of Shakespeare's sonnets takes center stage. Rose Rushe is a woman of audacious passion, who laughs in the face of Elizabethan correctness. She is an artist, a lover, a witch, and she is all those things without shame or apology, shattering conventions in the same way she breaks hearts. This book is an alchemical combination of meticulous research and immersive storytelling. Mary McMyne takes up the Bard's quill and gives us a historical romantasy that will have you on the edge of your reading chair from the prologue to the very last scene."
Daughters of Olympus (2024) Hannah Lynn "With her latest novel, Hannah Lynn demonstrates her deep knowledge of mythology and mastery of storytelling. Her rich, vivid details transport readers to an ancient world, one alive with danger and great magic. Although they are goddesses, both Demeter and Core/Persephone are still women, desperate to forge their own paths and make their own choices in a patriarchal world that stymies them at every turn. Daughters of Olympus is both a celebration of women, and a testament to the importance of perspective--the untold and underappreciated stories."
